Fluid systems



R` E. DIENER FLUID SYSTEMS June 18, 1963 Filed March 14, 1960 IN V ENTOR. Romr E Eff/VER A T TORNE YS United States Patent O 3,694,042 FLUIDSYSTEMS Robert E. Diener, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Warner &Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. `14,1960, ser. No. 14,973 4 claims. (cm1- 414) This invention relates tofluid systems and particularly to means for controlling actuation of aplurality of fluid actuated devices.

In the present invention a system is provided wherein a plurality ofiiuid actuated devices are controlled in a novel manner so as to beactuated in a preselected sequence. The control arrangement operates tocontrol the flow of actuating fluid for one of the devices such thatwhen the devices are substantially simultaneously supplied with fluidactuation of the one device is delayed so that it is actuated subsequentto actuation of another of the devices.

The fluid actuated devices are operatively connected to pressure uidsource means through a movable control valve means and through conduitsproviding pressure and drain connections. A novel valve arrangement isassociated with the conduits for the device which is to be delayed andoperates to restrict or meter the ilow of fluid for such device toeffect a delay in the actuation of the device when the movable valvemeans 4is actuated and the devices are substantially simultaneouslysupplied with fluid.

Although the invention has many and varied uses it is ICC a two-positionvalve device and through interconnected conduits which have valve meansarranged to permit full flow of fluid to one of the devices and whichrestrict the flow of uid from the one device.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a iuid systemincluding fluid actuated motors controlling movements of a bar grippingchuck device and a bar feed device with improved fluid control means forcontrolling actuation of the motors to effect movement of the devices ina preselected sequence.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a system asdefined in the preceding object wherein the iluid control means includesvalve means for restricting or metering the ilow of actuating liuid forthe bar feed device to delay movement of the bar feed device until thechuck device has been moved.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in whichthe single FIGURE illustrates a Ifluid system incorporating theteachings of i the present invention.

of particular advantage in the control of fluid actuated motors whicheffect movement of a bar gripping chuck and a bar feed device in a barmachine. In a machine of this type the chuck is movable between open andclosed positions for respectively releasing and gripping the bar, andthe bar feed device is movable between advanced Vand retracted positionsto feed the bar through the chuck. It is necessary that these devices bemoved in the sequence wherein the chuck opens, the bar feed deviceadvances, the chuck closes and the bar feed device retracts.

Each of the iluid motors may be of the double acting type actuatable intwo directions for effecting the wo movements of its associated device.Preferably, the motors are connected to a single source of pressureiluid through interconnected conduits and through a conventionaltwo-position valve device to control the directions of actuation of themotors. The fluid control means are arranged to meter the flow'ofactuating iiuid in the conduits of the motor for the bar feed device sothat such device is advanced subsequent to opening of the chuck when thecontrol valve is moved to one of its positions and is retractedsubsequent to closing of the chuck when the control valve is moved tothe other of its positions.

The fluid control valves are of the type which permit normal full lluidow in one direction therethrough and which restrict or meter the flow ofiluid in the opposite direction therethrough. These valves arepreferably associated with the conduits for the motor to be delayed suchthat full flow is permitted to the motor and restricted flow is providedfrom the motor. The other, non-delayed device is actuated in the normalmanner under full ow conditi-ons so that the device it operates, such asa chuck device, is moved prior to movement of the delayed device, suchas a bar feed device. The control valves are adjustable to vary themetering action so that the amount of delay may be varied `as desired.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a uid systemincluding a plurality of -uid actuated devices with an improved fluidcontrol arrangement for effecting actuation of the devices in apreselected sequence.

It is another object of the invention to provide 'a system as definedinthe preceding object wherein the lluid control It is to be understoodthat the invention is susceptible of various applications, modications,constructions and arrangements and is particularly applicable foremployment in a machine tool wherein a bar-gripping chuck device and abar feed device are to be moved in a preselected sequence. v

Referring to the single ligure, there is shown a liuid system includinga pair of fluid actuated devices 1 and 2 which are to be actuated in apreselected sequence. The devices 1 and 2 may assume various forms andin the illustrated-embodiment comprise lluid actuated motors of thedouble acting piston-cylinder type for operating any suitablemechanisms. 'Ihe operated mechanisms, for example, may comprise parts ofa machine tool such as a bar-gripping collet chuck 3- and ya bar feeddevice 4 employed in a bar machine.

The chuck 3 is located at the outer end of a rotatable spindle S'forrotation therewith and is of conventional construction being movablebetween open and closed positions for respectively releasing andgripping bar stock `6. In order to actuate the collet chuck there isprovided in a conventional manner a chuck actuating mechanism 7 whichwill be described hereinafter.

The bar feed device is also of conventional construction and is designedto move longitudinally of the spindle axis to advance the bar stockthrough the chuck 3` subsequently to opening of the chuck. The bar feeddevice operates to a-dvance the bar stock and then retracts to its rearposition relative to the advanced bar stock. As will appear hereinafter,the bar feed mechanism is automatically operated to advance the barstock subsequent to opening of the collet chuck to a bar releasingposition.

The spindle 5, at its right hand end as viewed in the drawing, has anannular ange 8 secured thereto which has an exten-ding nose 9` with afrusto-conical opening in which are received jaws 10 of the colletchuck. As is conventional in the art, resilient pads 1'1 may be securedto the jaws 10l to grip the bar stock v6. 'In order to open and closethe collet chuck there is provided a plurality of pivoted fingers 12(only one of which is shown) which are pivoted to a housing 13 securedas by threading to the outer surface of a sleeve 14, which is slidablefreely within the spindle 5. The sleeve 14 is secured as by threading toan extension 15 'of a flexible thin wall section 16 connected to thejaws 10. The section 16 forms a resilient mounting for the jaws 10.

The fingers 12 include short projections 17 which engage a reaction ring1S forming part of the spindle. The lingers 12 :carry rollers 19 whichcooperate with an inner tapered surface of a hollow cone Ztl which isslidable on the outer surface of the housing 13. The cone 20 includes anannular groove 21 in which may be positioned a pair of rollers 22 (onlyone of which is shown) carried by forked extensions of a lever 23 whichis pivotally secured intermediate its ends to a portion of the machine.

W'hen the lever 23 is pivoted it effects sliding movement of lthe cone2) relative to the housing 13 and relative to the fingers 12 so that thelingers 12 are pivoted and the sleeve `14% is moved to the right orleft, depending upon the direction of pivotal movement of the lever. Asa result `the collet chuck can be opened or `closed by actuation of thelever 23. The chuck is shown in its closed, bar gripping position in thedrawing. If the lever 23 is pivoted in a clockwise direction as viewedin the drawing, then the cone Ztl is moved to the right and lingers 12are pivoted in a clockwise di-rection by the resilience of the jaws 1Gso that the sleeve 14 is moved to the right which opens the collet.Pivoting of the lever 23 in a counterclockwise direction operates toclose the collet chuck.

The bar feed device i is shown as including an axially movable,nonrotatable head assembly 24 surrounding an inner hollow sleeve 25which has secured thereto as by welding a feed linger tube 26 extendingfreely within the collet actuating sleeve 14. The tube 2d carries at itsright hand end a plurality of resilient lingers 27 which are arranged.to fritcionally grip the -bar stock 6 during advancement of the barfeed device to move lthe bar forward through the open chuck, and whichslide along the bar stock relative thereto when the bar feed device isretracted subsequent to closing of the collet chuck. The ngers 27 aredesigned to be in continuous engagement with the bar stock.

The sleeve 2S together with the tube 26 secured thereto are supported`for rotation with the spindle relative to the head assembly 24 by meansof a bearing 23 between the head `assembly 24 and the sleeve 25. Thehead assembly 24 includes an annular part 29 having a depending portion30 on each side thereof to which are secured hollow members (not shown)through which extend ways (not shown) for slidably supporting the barfeed device. A ring 31 is attached to the right-hand face of the part 29to surround the finger tube 26.

The chuck and bar feed devices are actuated by the fluid motors 1 and 2.The motor 1 for the chuck may include a piston 32 positioned within ahollow cylinder 33 and having a piston rod 34 extending outwardly of thecylinder and operatively connected -to the lever 23. In a similarmanner, the motor 2 includes a piston 3S within a cylinder 36 and havinga rod 37 operatively connected to the part 29 Displacement of thepistons 32 and 3S within the cylinders 33 and 36 is controlled by a maincontrol valve 3S including a shiftable valve body which may be shiftedunder the control of an operator.

The body of the valve 33 is shown in its normal position and for thisposition of the valve body the collet chuck is closed and 4the -bar feeddevice is retracted.

one an inlet conduit and the other an exhaust conduit or vice versa.

The motor 2 is operatively connected to the pump 39 and the sump throughbranch conduits 46 and 47 connected to the cylinder 36 and to theconduits 42 and 43 respectively through control valves 48 and 49; Whenthe valve 33 is in its normal position fluid under pressure from thepump 39 is supplied to the cylinder 35 through the branch conduit 46 andfluid is drained from the cylinder 36 through the branch conduit 47.This urges the piston 35 to its illustrated position to retract the barfeed device. The branch conduits 46 and 47 become either branch inletconduits or branch exhaust conduits depending upon the currentfunctional characteristic of the particular conduit of the pair ofconduits 42 and 43 to which the branch conduits are connectedrespectively.

The valves 4S and 49 operate to delay actuation of the motor 2 so thatthe motor 2 is actuated subsequent to actuation of the motor 1. Thevalves 4S and 49 are of a commercially available type which permitnormal full fluid liow therethrough in one direction, and which restrictor meter huid flow therethrough in the opposite direction. Each of thevalves 43 and 49 is adjustable to permit variation of the fluid meteringaction by rotatable screws forming a part of the valves and which arerotatable by a suitable tool such as a screw driver engageable with aslot in the heads of the screws and which upon rotation vary therestriction in the valve. Flow control valves suitable for use in thepresent invention are supplied by the Schrader division of ScovillManufacturing Company, Incorporated, under Schrader numbers 3250, 3250A,325GB, 325GC and 325OD.

If it is desired to open the chuck `and to advance the bar feed device,the valve 38 is actuated so that fluid under pressure lows from the pump39 through the conduit 49, a passage 5d of the valve 38 and the conduit43 to the cylinder 33. At the same time fluid flows through the conduit47 and the valve 49 to the cylinder 36. The piston 32 is thereby urgedto the left to pivot the lever 23 in a clockwise direction to open thechuck. Fluid is drained from the cylinder 33 through the conduit 42, apassage 51 of the valve 3S and a conduit 52 to drain.

With the valve body in its normal position a suitable flu-id such as airor oil is supplied under pressure from a conventional pump 39 through `asupply conduit 4t) which connects through a passage 41 of the valve to aconduit l2 leading to the left-hand end of the cylinder 33. This urgesthe piston 32 to its illustrated position to position the lever 23 forclosing the chuck. Fluid is drained from the cylinder 33 through aconduit 43 which connects through a passage 44 of the valve to an outletconduit 45 leading to drain. The operation of the main coontrol valve 3Salternatively and selectively functions to cause the pair of conduitsft2 and 43 to become, respectively,

The fluid under pressure supplied to the cylinder 36 through the valve49 .tends to move the piston 35 toward the right but such movement isresisted by the metering action of the valve 43 on the fluid drainedfrom thc cylinder 36 through the Iconduit 46. In other words, due tosuch metering action the initial dlferential pressure in the cylinder 36is not great enough to move the piston toward the right. As a result thepiston 32 will be moved to the left and the chuck will be opened priorto appreciable advancement of the bar stock. When the piston 32 has beenmoved to its extreme left hand position, pressure ot fluid in theconduit 47 will build up and the piston 35 will be moved to the right.

When the bar stock has been fed by movement of the piston 35 to theright, an operator actuates the valve 38 so that fluid under pressureflows from the pump 39 through the conduit 42 into the cylinder 33 todisplace the piston 32 toward its illustrated position. At the sametime, uid under pressure flows through valve 48 and conduit 46 into thecylinder 36 and displacement of the piston 35 is delayed due to themetering action of valve 49 of uid drained from the cylinder 36.Consequently, the chuck will be closed prior to appreciable retractionof the bar feed device.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certainspecific 'embodiments thereof, numerous modifications are possible andit is desired to cover all modifications falling within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A pressure uid supply and control system for a pair of double actingpressure uid motors each having a cylinder and a piston movable thereinand with the pistons of the motors being adapted to be operativelyconnected respectively to diierent movable elements of a mechanism andone of which elements is to have delayed actuation relative to theactuation of the other of said elements; said system comprising a pairof conduits connected to the cylinder of one of said motors on oppositesides of the piston thereof, pressure fluid supply and exhaust meansincluding -supply and outlet conduits, a main control valve forinterconnecting said supply and outlet conduits with said pair ofconduits to selectively and alternatively make one of said pair ofconduits `an inlet conduit and the other an exhaust conduit to supplypressure fluid to said cylinder `of said one motor on one or the otherside of the piston thereof Iand exhaust pressure uid fromy said lastnamed cylinder on the the opposite side of the piston thereof, -a pairof branch conduits connected lto the cylinder of the other of saidmotors on opposite sides of the piston thereof and each being connectedrespectively to a different one of said pair of conduits; and valves insaid branch conduits and exclusively of the .type providing for -freepressure iluid flowV therethrough Jfrom lthe pair of conduits to saidcylinder of :the other of said motors and a restricted pressure iluidflow therethrough from said last named cylinder to said pair of conduitswhereby the pistons of said motors will be simultaneously subjected topressure uid from the supply conduit of the pressure uid supply andexhaust means while the exhaust of pressure fluid from the cylinder ofthe other of said motors is restricted relative to the exhaust of thepressure uid 'from the cylinder of said one motor thus causing delayedactuation of the -other of said motors relative to said one motor.

2. A pressure iuid supply and control system as defined in claim 1 andwherein the ilow control valves in said branch conduits are adjustableto vary the restriction -to the ow of pressure =iluid from the cylinderof said other .of said motors to the conduits of said pair of conduitsto which ythe branch conduits lare connected.

3. A pressure fluid supply and control system for a pair of doubleacting pressure fluid motors each having a cylinder and a piston movabletherein and with the pistons of the motors being adapted to beoperatively connected respectively to different movable elements of amechanism and one of which elements is to have delayed actuationrelative to the actuation of the other of said elements; said systemcomprising a pair of conduits connected to -the cylinder of one of saidmotors on opposite sides of the piston thereof, pressure iluid supplyand exhaust means including supply and outlet conduits, a main controlvalve for interconnecting said supply and outlet conduits with said pairof conduits to selectively and alternatively make one of said pair ofconduits an inlet conduit and the other an exhaust conduit to supplypressure fluid :to said cylinder of said one motor on one or the otherside .of the piston thereof and exhaust pressure fluid `from said lastnamed cylinder on the opposite side of the piston thereof, a pair ofbranch conduits connected to the cylinder of the other of said motors onopposite sides of the piston thereof and each being connectedrespectively to a diiferent one of said pair of conduits; and valves insaid branch conduits and exclusively of the type providing for freepressure uid flow therethrough in one direction to said cylinder of theother of said motors and a restricted pressure fluid ow therethrough 4inthe opposite direction whereby the pistons of said motors on one sidethereof will be simultaneously subjected to pressure fluid from thesupply conduit of the pressure fluid supply and on the other sidethereof will be simultaneously connected to the exhaust conduit with themovement of the piston of the other of said motors -being delayed by themetering action of said flow control devices Vand being at a controlledvelocity.

4. A pressure fluid supply and control system `as defined in claim 3 andwherein the ow control valves in said branch conduits lare -adjustableto vary the restriction to the flow of pressure uid through the devicein a metered direction.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,994,974 Wiedmann Mar. 19, 1935 2,639,736 Tomlinson May 26, 19532,833,434 Stover et al. May 6, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,097 GreatBritain Aug. 14, 1939

1. A PRESSURE FLUID SUPPLY AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PAIR OF DOUBLEACTING PRESSURE FLUID MOTORS EACH HAVING A CYLINDER AND A PISTON MOVABLETHEREIN AND WITH THE PISTONS OF THE MOTORS BEING ADAPTED TO BEOPERATIVELY CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO DIFFERENT MOVABLE ELEMENTS OF AMECHANISM AND ONE OF WHICH ELEMENTS IS TO HAVE DELAYED ACTUATIONRELATIVE TO THE ACTUATION OF THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS; SAID SYSTEMCOMPRISING A PAIR OF CONDUITS CONNECTED TO THE CYLINDER OF ONE OF SAIDMOTORS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PISTON THEREOF, PRESSURE FLUID SUPPLYAND EXHAUST MEANS INCLUDING SUPPLY AND OUTLET CONDUITS, A MAIN CONTROLVALVE FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID SUPPLY AND OUTLET CONDUITS WITH SAID PAIROF CONDUITS TO SELECTIVELY AND ALTERNATIVELY MAKE ONE OF SAID PAIR OFCONDUITS AN INLET CONDUIT AND THE OTHER AN EXHAUST CONDUIT TO SUPPLYPRESSURE FLUID TO SAID CYLINDER OF SAID ONE MOTOR ON ONE OR THE OTHERSIDE OF THE PISTON THEREOF AND EXHAUST PRESSURE FLUID FROM SAID LASTNAMED CYLINDER ON THE THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PISTON THEREOF, A PAIR OFBRANCH CONDUITS CONNECTED TO THE CYLINDER OF THE OTHER OF SAID MOTORS ONOPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PISTON THEREOF AND EACH BEING CONNECTEDRESPECTIVELY TO A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID PAIR OF CONDUITS; AND VALVES INSAID BRANCH CONDUITS AND EXCLUSIVELY OF THE TYPE PROVIDING FOR FREEPRESSURE FLUID FLOW THERETHROUGH FROM THE PAIR OF CONDUITS TO SAIDCYLINDER OF THE OTHER OF SAID MOTORS AND A RESTRICTED PRESSURE FLUIDFLOW THERETHROUGH FROM SAID LAST NAMED CYLINDER TO SAID PAIR OF CONDUITSWHEREBY THE PISTONS OF SAID MOTORS WILL BE SIMULTANEOUSLY SUBJECTED TOPRESSURE FLUID FROM THE SUPPLY CONDUIT OF THE PRESSURE FLUID SUPPLY ANDEXHAUST MEANS WHILE THE EXHAUST OF PRESSURE FLUID FROM THE CYLINDER OFTHE OTHER OF SAID MOTORS IS RESTRICTED RELATIVE TO THE EXHAUST OF THEPRESSURE FLUID FROM THE CYLINDER OF SAID ONE MOTOR THUS CAUSING DELAYEDACTUATION OF THE OTHER OF SAID MOTORS RELATIVE TO SAID ONE MOTOR.